Devices for threading-in the weft in automatic looms



Jan. 17, 1956 K. SCHWABE DEVICES FOR THREADING-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed June 6, 1950 5 SheetsSheet 1 Fig.1

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K. SCHWABE Jan. 17, 1956 DEVICES FOR THREADING-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m F IL A 1 1 m m m N Jan. 17, 1956 K. SCHWABE 2,731,044

DEVICES FOR THREADING-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS 5 Sheets$heet 3 Filed June 6, 1950 K. SCHWABE Jan. 17, 1956 DEVICES FOR THREADING-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6, 1.950

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DEVICES FOR THREADING-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. KUor+ QQMMJQBL 3km me- United States Patent DEVICES FOR THREADiNG-IN THE WEFT IN AUTOMATIC LOOMS Kurt Schwabe, Le Locle, Switzerland Application June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,335

11 Claims. (Cl. 139259) The invention relates to a device for threading-in the weft in automatic looms.

In all automatic looms hitherto known, at the first pick after a change of cops, the weft thread runs directly from the thread holder of the cop changer mechanism to the tip of the cop, and is consequently not braked. In the course of the first pick it comes to lie in a notch on the top side of the shuttle below a barb arranged above the same. After the second pick it is properly drawn into the exit eyelet of the shuttle and from this moment it receives the right kind of braking which it retains until the cop is completely exhausted. The fact that the weft thread is thus raked less at the first pick after a change of cops and is consequently tensioned less in the shed than at all subsequent picks, leads to insufiiciencies in surveying the pick by the weft stop motion and to an inhomogeneous weave.

In the known automatic looms moreover the difliculty arises that the end of the weft thread extending from the holding device to the scissors is often caught by the shuttle or by the components of the picking motion, and is carried along into the shed so that occasionally double wefts are produced which have to be removed by mending in a very expensive and time-wasting manner.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an automatic loom comprising a threading-in device for the weft which assures greater homogeneity of the weave and substantially obviates mending of double wefts.

it is another object of the invention to provide a threading-in device for the weft in automatic looms which assures braking of the weft thread immediately after a change of cops at the first pick of the shuttle.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a threading-in device for the weftin automatic looms which ensures the withdrawal of the weft thread ends extending from the holding device to the scissors from the range of the shuttle and of the components of the picking motion.

According to a preferred form of the invention there is provided a device for threading-in the weft thread in automatic looms wherein members in operative connection with the cop changer mechanism of the loom act on the end of the weft thread which runs from a new cop to the holding device for the ends of the weft threads of the cop magazine, in such a manner that firstly a pull is exerted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, then a pull forward, and finally a pull downward whereby a perfeet threading-in of the weft thread into the shuttle is achieved before the first pick of the shuttle Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of two embodiments thereof given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings merely by way of example and not of limitation. All components and auxiliary devices not essential for the understanding of the invention have been omitted, being well known in the art and disclosed for example in Schlomann-Oldenburg,. Illustrated Technical Dictionaries, volume XVI, Weaving and Woven Fabrics (Lewenz & Wilkinson Ltd., London, S. W. 1),

2,731,044 Patented Jan. 17, 19 56 e. g. on p. 262/8, p. 263/5, p. 264/1, p. 265/13, p. 266/2, p. 268/8 etc.

Fig. 1 shows the cop magazine and part of the slay of an automatic loom with the first embodiment of the device for threading-in the weft thread, in elevation.

Fig. 2 shows part of the same elevation in a different position of the slay.

' Fig. 3 is part of a plan view to Fig. 1.

Figs. 4,5 and 6 are lateral elevations of the slay and of the cop magazine in three different working positions;

Fig. 7 is a lateral view of part of the shuttle on a larger scale,

Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 9 is a section along the line AA of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a lateral view of the slay and of the cop magazine of an automatic loom with the second embodi ment of the device for threading-in the weft thread,

Fig. 11 is an elevation of part of the slay of this loom with the shuttleand cop changer-boxes and with the cop magazine,

Fig. 12 is part of a plan view thereto, and

Fig. 13 is a lateral elevation of the slay and of the cop magazine in the same position as in Fig. 6 but drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9, the cop magazine is denoted 1 wherein the cops 2 are held and guided, the threads of which run over a thread guide 3 to a holder pin 4, to which they are attached. The transfer hammer 5 (Figs. 1 and 4 to 6) which is rotatable on the axle 5a is, through a toothed segment 6 arranged on its hub, in en gagement with an intermediate gear wheel 7 which on the other hand meshes with a gear wheel 8 arranged on one end of a shaft 9 and constitutes a drive means for the same. This shaft 9 is rotatably journalled in bearings (not shown in the drawing) on the cop changer mechanism. On the other end of this shaft 9 a rocker arm 10 is arranged the free end of which is fork-shaped. The prongs of the forkshaped end of the rocker arm 10 are denoted 10a and 10b. The rocker arm 10 has moreover a projection We extend ing from its middle portion. On the slay 11 two bearing brackets 12a and 12'!) (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided in which the shaft 13 is rotatably journalled. On one end of this actuating shaft 13 a hook 14 (Figs. 4 to 6) and a hook 14a as well as a lever 14b are arranged. The other end of this shaft 13 carries a lever 140. The lever 14b is biassed by a spring 15 attached to the bearing bracket 12a which spring tends to turn the hook 14 in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6). On a pin 16 arranged on the bearing bracket 12a a two-armed locking pawl 17 is pivoted which has two arms 17a and 17b and which is under the action of a spring 18 tending to turn it in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6). This turning of the pawl 17 is however, opposed by a stop 19 arranged on the bearing bracket 12a. On the slay 11 there is moreover arranged a forked guide (Figs. 1 and 2) on a support 20 outside the shuttle cell, the prongs 20a and 2% of which guide are bent about a right angle and the ends of which are turned up in book shape (Figs. 4 to 6).

On the bearing bracket moreover a guide bolt 21 is pivoted which has, perpendicular to its axis, a guide bore wherein a thread selector rod 22 is shiftably guided, which is linked to an end of a lever 23. The lever 23 is fixedly arranged on a shaft 24 which is journalled in a bearing 25 and in the frame 26 of the loom. On the side of the frame 26 of the loom a two-armed lever 27 is attached to the shaft 24, one of its arms being engaged by a spring 28 attached to the frame 26 of the loom whereby a roller journalled on the other arm of this lever 27 is pressed against a cam disc 29. This cam disc 29 is attached to a drive means 30 which may be the crank shaft of the loom 3 itself or another shaft running at the same speed as the latter.

On the frame 26 of the loom there is moreover a stop 31 for the lever 14c. This stop can be constructed stationary attached to the frame or arranged adjustably as the case may be.

In the slay beam a thread guide eyelet 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided at the outer end of the shuttle cell. The shuttle 33 (Figs. 7 to 9) has, as usual, on its top side a notch and in the latter a barb 33a. The slot 33c running towards the exit eyelet 33b which allows the insertion of the thread into the exit eyelet 33b, is however, inclined at an angle against the tip of the shuttle 33.

In normal operation of the loom, i. e. when no change of cops occurs, the hook 14 is in the position illustrated in Fig, 4, and the arm 17b of the locking pawl 17 prevents it from being turned in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6) under the action of the spring 15. When the slay 11 reaches its lowest position, the lever 14c reaches the stop 31. Under the action of the cam disc 29, which acts on the roller on one arm of the lever 27 and thereby turns the shaft against the action of the spring 28 biassing the other arm of the lever 27 so that the same performs a to-and-fro rocking movement, the thread inserting means 22 is moved up and down by the lever 23 fixedly attached to the shaft 24. Then begins the downward movement of the thread inserting rod 22 in the time interval between the highest position of the slay 11 and the picking of the shuttle, so that the same has returned again to its initial position before the picked shuttle has reached the cell on the other side of the slay.

When by a device known in itself (not shown in the drawing) the change of the cop of the shuttle 33 has been initiated the transfer hammer pushes a new cop from the cop magazine 1 into the shuttle 33. Simultaneously with the transfer hammer 5, the rocker arm is rocked downward by drive means 9, and 3, the deflection of the latter being, however, larger than that of the transfer hammer 5 (Figs. 1 and 5). In this downward rocking movement the rocker arm 10 engages the weft thread running from the tip of the new cop towards the thread guide 3 and attached to the holder pin 4, presses it on to the prongs Zita and b, and pulls it downward between the latter (Figs. 1 and 5).

The pull exerted thereby on the Weft thread causes the weft thread to be wound off from the new cop pressed into the shuttle 33, and thereby the weft thread gets under the barb 33a in the notch at the top side of the shuttle 33. During the last portion of the downward movement of the rocker arm 10 its projection 10c abuts against the arm 17a of the locking pawl 17 whereby the latter is turned against the action of the spring 13 in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 5). This has the consequence that the arm 17b releases the lever 14b, and that the hook 14 with the shaft 13 is turned in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6) under the action of the actuating spring 15. By this rotation the hook 14 engages the weft thread between the shuttle 33 and the nearer prong 20a of the guide (Figs. 2 and 3) and pulls it forward, whereby the weft thread is introduced into the obliquely running eyelet 33b and the slot 330 of the shuttle 33. Simultaneously with the movement of the hook 14, the hook 14-11 has been swung between the prongs 10a and Hill? of the rocker arm 10, in such a manner that at the return movement of the rocker arm 10 the weft thread loop is taken over by it (Figs. 5 and 6). In this position the downward movement of the thread inserting rod 22 begins, the hook shaped end of which engages now the weft thread between the shuttle 33 and the hook l4 and pulls it downward, whereby the weft thread is completely pulled through the slot 33c into the exit eyelet 33b of the shuttle 33 and into the thread guide eye 32 of the slay beam (Figs. 2 and 6).

At the subsequent return movement of the slay 11 and simultaneous pick of the shuttle 33, the hook 14 is re stored to its initial position by the lever 14c abutting against the stop 31 and thereby turning the shaft 13 (Fig. 4). Thereby the hook 14b disengages itself from the loop of the weft thread as formed by the rocker arm 10. The flying shuttle 33 pulls this loop of the Weft thread out and tightens the weft thread. During the picking of the shuttle, and the return movement of the slay l1, and after the thread inserting rod 22, has returned also to its initial position, the weft thread runs over the prongs 20a and 25311 of the forked guide through the thread guide eye 32 of the slay beam and through the exit eyelet 33b of the shuttle directly to the tip of the cop. As soon as the weft thread is cut o-fif by a pair of scissors (not shown in the drawing) it can be pulled from the range of the shuttle 33 and of the components of the picking motion (likewise omitted) of the loom, and this is effected before the next pick of the shuttle by the thread inserting rod 22 moving downwards again.

The second embodiment of the device for threading-in the weft thread is designed for automatic looms in which, when a change of cops is initiated, the shuttle with the weft cop to be changed runs through the shuttle box into a separate cop changer box arranged externally to the latter wherein the weft cop is changed. A loom of this kind is for example described in the copending patent application Serial No. 163,860 of May 5, 1950, now Patent No. 2,682,897, dated July 6, 1954. In looms of this kind the changing of the weft cops is effected, as well known, when the slay is in its rearmost position. After the changing of the weft cop the shuttle is pushed back into the shuttle box by a separate device.

In Figs. 10 to 12 this second embodiment of the device for threading-in the weft thread and some components of the automatic loom are shown in the position which they assume immediately after the new weft cop has been pushed into the shuttle.

With 35 the cop magazine is denoted wherein the weft cops 36 are guided and held (Figs. 10 and 11). The ends of the weft threads of the weft cops 36 are guided over a thread guide 37 and are fixed toa holder pin 38. Numeral 39 refers to the slay, and numeral 40 to the frame of the loom. On the slay 39 a shuttle box 41 is shiftably guided which in this case has three cells, and outside the latter a cop changer box 42 is fixedly arranged (Figs. ll and 12). On the picker spindle 43 the picker 44 and a sliding means 45 are shiftably guided which latter is a drive means device by which the shuttle is pushed back from the cop changer box 42 into a cell of the shuttle box 41 after a change of cops has been performed. In this slide piece 45 a bolt 46 is pivoted which carries the thread guide hook 47. A spring 48 tends to turn the bolt 46 with the thread guide book 47 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 12), and thereby presses the latter against an abutment 49 arranged on the slide piece 45. in the cop changer box 42, on the end thereof lying towards the shuttle box 41, a cam piece 50 is arranged, which cooperates with threading means, namely the thread guide hook 47 in the manner described hereinafter while the shuttle is pushed back into the shuttle box. In the shield 51 of the box, a thread insorting means, namely a toothed rack 52 (Figs. 10 and 11) is shiftably arranged in guides (not shown in the drawing) the upper end 53 of which is hook-shaped. This toothed rack 52 is in mesh with a toothed gear wheel 54 constituting a drive means therefor, and which is fixedly attached on a shaft 56 which is journalled on the one hand in the shield 51 of the box and 011 the other hand in the slay sword 55. On the shaft 56 there is moreover a toothed gear 57 fixedly arranged which is in mesh with a toothed sector 58 fixed to the frame 40 of the loom.

The shuttle corresponds in design accurately to the one of the embodiment described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, and for this reason the same reference numbers are used for it.

When a weft cop has to be exchanged, a cop changer device (not shown in the drawings) causes the respective a ea-st shuttle 33 not to be retained-in the cell of vthe shuttle box 41 but causes the same to run through the latter and to get into the cop changer box 42. In this cop changer box the new weft cop 36 is pushed into the shuttle 33, whereby the end of the weft thread (Fig. 11) running from the holder pin 33 via the thread guide 37 to the weft cop 36 superimposes itself on the thread guide hook 47.

When now the shuttle 33, equipped with the new weft cop 36, is pushed back from the cop changer box 42 into the shuttle box 41, a pull in an axial direction is exerted on the thread, and the latter is thereby moved below the hook 33a in the notch on the top side of the shuttle 33 whereby it is at the same time wound off the weft cop 36 according to requirements. Upon continuation of the movement of the slide piece 45 towards the shuttle box, the thread guide hook 47 meets the cam piece 50 and is turned by the curvature of the latter against the action of the spring 48. Thereby this thread guide hook 47 engages the weft thread and pulls it forward into the range of the hook 53. When the slay 39 moves forward, the thread inserting means 52 is moved downward whereby the thread inserting hook 53 engages the weft thread and pulls it along in a downward direction. By the thread guide barb 57 the weft thread which is already held below the hook 331: of the shuttle 33 is brought into the slot 33c when being pulled forward, and by the hook 53 pulling the weft thread downward the weft thread is completely threaded into the exit eyelet 33b of the shuttle 33.

When new the shuttle 33 with the full weft cop 36 is picked for the first time towards the other side of the loom, the weft thread is again tensioned since the picking of the shuttle occurs in the lowest position of the slay, and in this position it has been released by the hook 53 of the toothed rack. After the cutting-off of the weft thread running towards the holder pin 38 has been effected, this remnant of the thread is again engaged by the hook 53 of the toothed rack 52, and is pulled out of range of the slay beam. 1 wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown an described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I. claim is:

l. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means; slay means pivotally mounted on said supporting means; an elongated shuttle mounted on said slay means for reciprocating movement and having a re cess for receiving a cop, said shuttle. being formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot, and a transversal slot branching off from said elongated slot, and further formed with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; at thread-engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transversal slot; cop changing means mounted on said supporting means supplying new cops and inserting the same into said recess in said shuttle; thread holding means mounted on said supporting means and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a newly inserted cop; fork-shaped guiding means mounted on said slay means substantially aligned with said longitudinal slot in said shuttle and adapted to hold and support a portion of a thread of a new cop extending between said shuttle and said holding means; a rocker arm mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle, said rocker arm having a thread engaging portion adapted to a thread extending from said cop and held by said thread holding means, said rocker arm passing during movement thereof into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said thread engaging portion thereof forms a loop of said thread, tensioning the same so as to wind off a portion thereof from said cop and to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal groove of said shuttle under said thread engaging member; a spring-loaded hook mem- .ber mounted on said slay means pivotally normal to -the direction of movement of said shuttle, between an inoperative and an operative position and adapted to engage in operative position said tensioned thread so as to insert the same into said transversal slot in said shuttle; thread inserting means reciprocably mounted on said slay and located between said hook member and said shuttle, said thread inserting means having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle and adapted to engage said thread so as to insert it into said eyelet passage of said shuttle; drive means operating said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means; and motion transmitting means connecting said drive means with said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means for consecutive movement.

2. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means; slay means pivotally mounted on said supporting means; an elonagted shuttle mounted on said slay means for reciprocating movement and having a recess for receiving a cop, said shuttle being formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot, and a transversal slot branching off from said elongated slot, and further formed with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; a thread-engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transversal slot; cop changing means mounted on said supporting means supplying new cops and inserting the same into said recess in said shuttle; thread holding means mounted on said supporting means and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a newly inserted cop; fork-shaped guiding means mounted on said slay means substantially aligned with said longitudinal slot in said shuttle and adapted to hold and support a portion of a thread of a new cop extending between said shuttle and said holding means; a rocker arm mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle, said rocker arm having a thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread extending from said cop and held by said thread holding means, said rocker arm passing during movement thereof into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said thread engaging portion thereof forms a loop of said thread, tensioning the same so as to wind olf a portion thereof from said cop and to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal groove of said shuttle under said thread engaging member; a hook member mounted on said slay means pivotally normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle, between an inoperative and an operative position and adapted to engage in operative position said tensioned thread so as to insert the same into said transversal slot in said shuttle; a spring urging said hook member into said operative position; a spring-loaded locking means pivoted on said slay means and holding said hook means in inoperative position against the action of said spring, said rocker arm engaging and releasing said locking means during movement into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said locking means releases said hook member for movement into said operative position thereof; thread inserting means reciprocably mounted on said slay and located between said hook member and said shuttle, said thread inserting means having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle and adapted to engage said thread so as to insert it into said eyelet passage of said shuttle; drive means operating said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means; and motion transmitting means connecting said drive means with said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means for consecutive movement.

3. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means; slay means pivotally mounted on said supporting means; an elongated shuttle mounted on said slay-means for reciprocating movement and having a recess for receiving a cop, said shuttle being formed on the sur face thereof with an elongated slot, and a transversal slot branching off from said elongated slot, and further formed with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; a thread-engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transversal slot; cop changing means mounted on said supporting means supplying new cops and inserting the same into said recess in said shuttle; thread holding means mounted on said supporting means and adapted to hold the end of the a newly inserted cop; fork-shaped guiding means mounted on said slay means substantially aligned with said longitudinal slot in said shuttle and adapted to hold and support a portion of a thread of a new cop extending between said shuttle and said holding means; a rocker arm mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle, said rocker arm having a thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread extending from said cop and held by said thread holding means, said rocker arm passing during movement thereof into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said thread-engaging portion thereof forms a loop of said thread, tensioning the same so as to wind oif a portion thereof from said cop and to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal groove of said shuttle and under said thread-engaging member; a shaft rotatably mounted on said slay means and extending parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle; a hook member secured to said shaft for pivotal movement therewith between an inoperative and an operative position and adapted to engage in said operative position said tensioning thread so as to insert the same into said transversal slot in said shuttle; a lever fixedly mounted on said shaft; a spring urging said lever to turn said shaft so as to pivot said hook member into said operative position; a spring-loaded looking means pivoted on said slay means engaging said lever and thereby holding said hook member in inoperative position against the action of said spring, said rocker arm engaging and releasing said locking means during movement into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said locking means releases said lever and said hook member for movement into said operative position thereof; thread inserting means reciprocably mounted on said slay and located between said hook member and said shuttle, said thread inserting means having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle and adapted to engage said thread so as to insert it into said eyelet passage of said shuttle; drive means operating said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means; and motion transmitting means connecting said drive means with said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means for consecutive movement.

4. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means; slay means pivotally mounted on said supporting means; an elongated shuttle mounted on said slay means for reciprocating movement and having a recess for receiving a cop, said shuttle being formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot, and a transversal slot branching off from said elongated slot, and further formed with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; a thread-engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transvcrsal slot; cop changing means mounted on said supporting means supplying new cops and inserting the same into said recess in said shuttle; thread holding means mounted on said supporting means and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a newly inserted cop; forkshaped guiding means mounted on said slay means substantially aligned with said longitudinal slot in said shuttle and adapted to hold and support a portion of a thread of a new cop extending between said shuttle and said holding means; a rocker arm mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle, said rocker arm having a thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread extending from said cop and held by said thread holding means, said rocker arm passing during movement thereof into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said thread-engaging portion thereof forms a loop of said thread, tensioning the same so as to wind off a portion thereof from said cop and to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal groove of said shuttle and under said thread-engaging member; a shaft rotatably mounted on said slay means and extending parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle; a hook member secured to said shaft for pivotal movement therewith between an inoperative and an operative position and adapted to engage in said operative position said tensioned thread so as to insert the same in said transversal slot in said shuttle; a lever fixedly mounted on said shaft; a spring urging said lever to turn said shaft so as to pivot said hook member into said operative position; a spring-loaded locking means pivoted on said slay means engaging said lever and thereby holding said hook member in inoperative position against the action of said spring, said rocker arm engaging and releasing said locking means during movement into said forkshaped guiding means so that said locking means releases said lever and said hook member for movement into said operative position thereof; a stop member secured to said supporting means; an actuating lever fixedly mounted on said shaft and engaging said stop means when said slay means reach the lowest position thereof whereby said shaft is turned and said locking means are permitted to return into the initial position thereof corresponding to an inoperative position of said hook member; thread inserting means reciprocably mounted on said slay and located between said hook member and said shuttle, said thread inserting means having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle and adapted to engage said thread so as to insert it into said eyelet passage of said shuttle; drive means operating said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means; and motion transmitting means connecting said drive means with said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means for consecutive movement.

5. A'threading apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means; slay means pivotally mounted on said supporting means; an elongated shuttle mounted on said slay means for reciprocating movement and having a recess for receiving a cop, said shuttle being formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot, and a transversal slot branching ofi from said elongated slot, and further formed with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; 21 thread-engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transversal slot; a cop changing means mounted on said supporting means supplying new cops and inserting the same into said recess in said shuttle; thread holding means mounted on said supporting means and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a newly inserted cop; forkshaped guiding means mounted on said slay means substantially aligned with said longitudinal slot in said shuttle and adapted to hold and support a portion of a thread of a new cop extending between said shuttle and said holding means; a rocker arm mounted on said supporting means pivotally about an axis parallel to the 'irection of movement of said shuttle, said rocker arm having a thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread extending from said cop and held by said thread holding means, said rocker arm passing during movement thereof into said fork-shaped guiding means so that said thread-engaging portion thereof forms a loop avenoaa of said thread, tensioning the same so as to wind off a portion thereof from said cop and to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal groove of said shuttle and under said thread-engaging member; a shaft rotatably mounted on said slay means and extending parallel to the direction of movement of said shuttle; a hook member secured to said shaft for pivotal movement therewith between an inoperative and an operative position and adapted to engage in said operative position said tensioned thread so as to insert the same into said transversal slot in said shuttle; a lever fixedly mounted on said shaft; a spring urging said lever to turn said shaft so as to pivot said hook member into said operative position; a spring-loaded locking means pivoted on said slay means engaging said lever and thereby holding said hook member in inoperative position against the action of said spring, said rocker arm engaging and releasing said locking means during movement into said forkshaped guiding means so that said locking means releases said lever and said hook member for movement into said operative position thereof; a stop member secured to said supporting means; an actuating lever fixedly mounted on said shaft and engaging said stop means when said slay means reach the lowest position thereof whereby said shaft is turned and said locking means are permitted to return into the initial position thereof corresponding to an inoperative position of said hook member; a hook fixedly mounted on said shaft in the region of said fork-shaped guiding means, and adapted to engage the loop on said fork-shaped guiding means by said rocker arm and to retain said loop until said shaft is turned back into its initial position; thread insertin means reciprocably mounted on said slay and located between said hook member and said shuttle, said thread inserting means having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to the direction of movement of said shuttle and adapted to said thread so as to insert it into said eyelet passage of said shuttle; drive means operating said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means; and motion transmitting means connecting said drive means with said rocker arm, said hook member, and said thread inserting means for consecutive movement.

6. In an automatic loom in which the change of cops is carried out outside of the shuttle box, in combination supporting means; a shuttle movably mounted on said supporting means, said shuttle having a recess for receiving a cop and formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot extending between said recess and one end of said shuttle, and further formed with a transversal slot branching off from said elongated slot and with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal slot and opening and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transversal slot; sliding means movably mounted on said supporting means for moving said shuttle into the shuttle box; thread holding means arranged substantially located in the plane of said longitudinal slot and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a new cop inserted into said shuttle; threading means pivotally mounted on said slide means and having a thread-engaging portion movable transversely to said longitudinal slot; spring means urging said threading means to pivot in one direction; stop means engaging said threading means and limiting movement thereof in said one direction; actuating cam means engaging said threading means when said slide means and said shuttle move towards said shuttle box relative to said threading means, and pivoting said threading means against the action of said spring means whereby a thread extending from said cop to said thread holding means and already inserted into said longitudinal slot due to the movement of said shuttle is inserted into said transversal slot of said shuttle; thread inserting means located between said cam means and said shuttle box and movable in a direction parallel to the pivoting axis 1 0 of said threading means and adapted to engage said thread and to insert the same intosaid eyelet passage; and motion-transmitting means connecting said slide means and said thread-inserting means for consecutive movement.

7. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated shuttle member having a recess for receiving a cop, and formed with an elongated slot extending from said recess in longitudinal direction toward one end of said shuttle member, said shuttle member being further formed with a transverse slot branching off from said elongated slot, and with an eyelet passage extending between the bottom portions of said longitudinal slot and said transverse slot; thread engaging means on said shuttle member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transverse slot; a thread holding and guiding means for holding the thread member of a cop inserted in said shuttle member aligned with and above said elongated slot in said shuttle member; means for moving one of said members toward the other of said members so that said thread member moves into said elongated slot and under said thread engaging means in the same; turning means for engaging said thread member and for moving the portion thereof located beyond said thread engaging means in transverse direction into a position aligned with said transverse slot in said shuttle member; and inserting means for moving said thread portion aligned with said transverse slot into the same, the thus-inserted thread portion automatically moving into said eyelet passage after having moved through said transverse slot.

8. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated shuttle means having a recess for receiving a cop, and formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot extending from said recess in a longitudinal plane toward one end of said shuttle means, said shuttle means being further formed with a transverse slot branching oil from said elongated slot and with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal plane and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transverse slot; a thread engaging member lo-' cated in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transverse slot; a thread holding and guiding memher arranged in said longitudinal plane spaced from said one end of said shuttle member and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a new cop inserted into said shuttle means; movable threading means located between said shuttle means and said thread holding and guiding member and having at least one thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread portion extending from said cop to said thread holding and guiding member; drive means for moving one of said means relative to the other of said means so as to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal slot and under said thread engaging member; an actuating means transversely moving said threading means so that the same insert said thread portion into said transverse slot; and thread inserting means. located between said threading means and said shuttle means and having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to engage and insert said thread portion into said eyelet passage.

9. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated shuttle means having a recess for receiving a cop, and formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot extending from said recess in a longitudinal plane toward one end of said shuttle means, said shuttle means being further formed with a transverse slot branching off from said elongated slot and with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal plane and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transverse slot; a thread engaging memher located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transverse slot; a thread holding and guiding member arranged in said longitudinal plane spaced from said one end of said shuttle member and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a new cop inserted into said shuttle means; movable threading means located between said shuttle means and said thread holding and guiding member and having at least one thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread portion extending from said cop to said thread holding and guiding member; drive means for moving said shuttle means relative to said threading means so as to insert said thread portion into said longitudinal slot and under said thread engaging member; an actuating means transversely moving said threading means so that the same insert said thread portion into said transverse slot; and thread inserting means located between said threading means and said shuttle means and having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to engage and insert said thread portion into said eyelet passage.

10. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, a support; an elongated shuttle means movably mounted on said support and having a recess for receiving a cop, and formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot extending from said recess in a longitudinal plane toward one end of said shuttle means, said shuttle means being further formed with a transverse slot branching off from said elongated slot and with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal plane and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transverse slot; a thread engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transverse slot; a thread holding and guiding member arranged in said longitudinal plane spaced from said one end of said shuttle member and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a new cop inserted into said shuttle means, movable threading means located between said shuttle means and said thread holding and guiding member and having at least one thread engaging portion adapted to engage a thread portion extending from said cop to said thread holding and guiding member; an actuating cam member fixedly mounted on said support; sliding means movably mounted on said support, and supporting said movably threading means for pivotal movement in transverse direction, said sliding means first moving said shuttle means relative to said threading means so that said thread portion is inserted into said longitudinal slot and under said thread engaging member, said sliding means then moving said threading means into engagement with said actuating cam member whereby said threading means is pivoted in transverse direction for inserting said thread portion into said transverse slots; and thread inserting means located between said threading 12 means and said shuttle means and having a thread engaging portion movable substantially normal to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to engage and insert said thread portion into said eyelet passage.

ll. A threading apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated shuttle means having a recess for receiving a cop, and formed on the surface thereof with an elongated slot extending from said recess in a longitudinal plane toward one end of said shuttle means, said shuttle means being further formed with a transverse slot branching off from said elongated slot and with an eyelet passage extending normal to said longitudinal plane and connecting the innermost portions of said longitudinal slot and of said transverse slot; a thread engaging member located in said longitudinal slot between said recess and said transverse slot; a thread holding and guiding member arranged in said longitudinal plane spaced from said one end of said shuttle member and adapted to hold the end of the thread of a new cop inserted into said shuttle means; first movable threading means located between said shuttle means and said thread holding and guiding member and having a thread engaging portion movable in said longitudinal plane substantially normal to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to engage a thread portion extending from said cop to said thread holding and guiding member so that said thread portion is inserted into said longitudinal slot and under said thread engaging member; second threading means located between said shuttle means and said first threading means and being movable in transverse direction, said second threading means having a portion adapted to engage said thread portion and to move the same into alignment with said transverse slot; actuating means connected to said second threading means for moving the same in said transverse direction; and thread inserting means located between said threading means and said shuttle means and having a thread engaging portion movable normal to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to engage and insert said thread portion into said eyelet passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,576 Northrop Jan. 13, 1903 718,587 Stimpson Jan. 13, 1903 920,037 Draper et al. Apr. 27, 1909 1,214,868 Youngquist Feb. 6, 1917 1,221,410 Barrell Apr. 3, 1917 

